16/12/2013 21:37BERLIN awaits Italian standout for last match of the year2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men

Berlin, Germany, December 16, 2013. Having crowned a successful December with two big home wins in the prelims of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League by recently qualifying for the national cup final after eight years of absence, the team of BERLIN Recycling Volleys anticipates an enthralling home clash with the Italian standout of Diatec TRENTINO this Wednesday.
Aiming for a positive conclusion of an exhausting first part of the season, the 2013 German national champion vies to round out their December home match series at national as well as international level by showing a good performance in the last round of the prelims of Europe’s elite competition at the Max-Schmeling-Halle this Wednesday. “We’ve planned the same for this last match in 2013 like for every other match: we want to show the best performance possible, grasp at the chances given to us to hopefully win at the end”, BERLIN head coach Mark Lebedew says.

Aware of this difficult undertaking against one of the world’s best teams, which claimed both the Italian championship and cup last season, as well as a bronze medal at the FIVB Club World Championships this October after four consecutive wins in this same contest, the home side still demonstrates self-confidence: “TRENTINO is in good form”, the Australian mentor states, adding: “Nationally and internationally they’ve been playing a great season so far. Ranked second in Italy’s Serie A1 and coming with a clear 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, and 25-22) victory against Copra Elior PIACENZA, third in the standings, TRENTINO is a very strong opponent.”

However, even though the Italians are considered the clear-cut favorite in this last match of the prelims in Pool D, BERLIN is well aware of their abilities: “We always believe in ourselves, especially when playing in front of our home crowd. We’ve won against other world-class teams at the Max-Schmeling-Halle. With our fans behind us, we believe we’re capable of anything” Lebedew concludes.

News nr. 102 of 304

17/12/2013 11:00:00DOL for Playoffs 12 coming up on Thursday morning, Final Four hosts to be announced as well